ON SONG: Piano player Adrienne Tracy tries out the Cleveland piano donated by Dan Ling, standing. The piano last four months before vandals destroyed it.

Mr Ling donated the piano in May, after which is was painted by an artist as part of moveable street art.

He offered to build a wheeled frame so the piano could easily be pushed in and out of the council building at night to protect it from vandals and inclement weather but this was declined by council.

Mr Ling said he had quoted $1200 for the repair job, which included transport. His offer to build a wheeled frame with brakes remained. “Council staff are worried about the weight of the piano but they are easy to move on wheels,” he said.

POINTLESS DESTRUCTION: Vandals went to lengths to snap off all of the piano's 85 hammers.

After Redland City Bulletin made inquiries, council contacted Mr Ling, telling him that it would pay for repairs.

A council spokeswoman said council advised Mr Ling that the piano would “continue to be left out after hours for the enjoyment of the broader community”.

“In the interests of public safety, council's view remains that the piano, which weighs in excess of 200 kilograms, is too heavy to be allowed to be placed on wheels where it could be moved around by the public.

“Council is also concerned about the health and safety of staff who would be required to move the piano twice a day.”

Mr Ling said he was in his mid-sixties and could easily shift pianos.

With council paying for repairs, he would close the crowd funding page and use that money to tune and maintain the piano through four visits over two years.

“I couldn’t talk them around about leaving it out again but I haven’t given up on that,” he said.

“Iunderstand workplace health and safety issues but a photocopier would be harder to move than that piano.”